Last week, SPICE TV attended a talk with design duo, Agi & Sam, as part of Vitamin Water’s #ShineBrightStudio event – a pop-up space in London’s trendy Shoreditch, curated to help young start-ups exhibit, create and be inspired.
Agape Mdumulla and Sam Cotton, more commonly known together as Agi & Sam, met whilst working at Alexander McQueen and their shared love of creating with a unique signature, along with their combined knowledge of print illustration and textiles, gave birth to a menswear brand which lays strong emphasis on print and humour. In their own words “fashion should never be taken too seriously,” though we at SPICE are serious fans of their version of wardrobe cool.
Over the last three years, the pair have worked in London for designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Armand Basi, Blaak Homme and J.W. Anderson, and have collaborated with Mr Porter, Ugg, Nike, the V&A and with producer and musician Labrinth. And, with mentors including Paul Smith – whose infamous quintessential brand Agi & Sam have been compared to – we know this brand is still climbing its way up to the dizzy heights of success set for its future.
During a talk at the #ShineBrightStudio pop-up, Agi & Sam spoke about their journey, including Agi’s interesting debut at Iceland Fashion Week, watching Jeremy Kyle, eating pizza in East London, as well as saving their Job Seekers Allowance to create their first collection (which they revealed cost just £600 to make – a shock considering its genius).
Below are some exclusive pictures from the event, as well as a few words of wisdom the duo shared on ‘making it’ in fashion;
“Be different; breakouts are noticed for being different without breaking the bank. When we made our first collection on £600, we worked with Vauxhall Fashion Scout and were backed by Lulu Kennedy, who champions true innovation.” -Agi
“Don’t be afraid to ask for favours. We still work with the signage company that sponsored use with material for our 2nd collection. Use your experiences everywhere to inspire you.” – Sam
“Find the balance between commercial and staying creative. Expensive products don’t always make money so make sure you stay true to your vision and grow with your team.” – Agi & Sam
Image source: SPICE TV, Agiandsam.com
